For instance, assuming first-round pick Jared Odrick immediately leapfrogs Phillip Merling for the starting right end spot is premature considering Merling is naturally an end, while Odrick was a college tackle, and Merling has two years of NFL experience and seasoning in a 3-4 scheme on Odrick.

Now, anything can happen during training camp considering Merling’s notoriously a lackluster practice performer. But who says Odrick is a fast learner, and doesn’t have similar issues?

You just don’t know yet, which is why it’s a good idea to breakdown the journey they face, taking a look at what’s the best case REALISTIC scenario based on the ability each draftee brings to the table, and the competition they’ll face come training camp.

DE Jared Odrick – First round (28th)

Odrick will be competing with Merling, Tony McDaniel and Lionel Dotson (7th round pick in 2008) for the starting spot vacated by Randy Starks’ move to nose tackle. If Odrick is not a starter it would be a disappointment if this first rounder didn’t unseat McDaniel for a role as one of four linemen in the nickel and dime package. In that role he’ll play 20-30 snaps a game.

OLB Koa Misi – Second round (40th overall)

Misi’s versatility makes him (on paper) the ideal complement to Cameron Wake, who appears to be the team’s new pass rushing specialist. But considering most NFL insiders say it generally takes two years to learn all the aspects of being a hybrid linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, Misi might have a ways to go before his knowledge base catches up to Charlie Anderson, who has been working in this system for two seasons, and at times flashed when given opportunity. But considering Anderson is a free agent next offseason the Trifecta would rather invest in Misi than Anderson if their contribution level is even close to even during training camp and the exhibition season.

OG John Jerry – Third round (73rd overall)

Jerry joins the deepest unit on the team, and that’s with or without Justin Smiley on board in 2010. But considering Jerry’s tentatively being moved from the right side (which he exclusively played in college) to the left it’s possible that he’s a long term project who will push for a starting spot in 2011. It’s possible Jerry could play well enough on the right side to make Richie Incongnito over to the left. But you never know who this mauler, who must have his body re-sculpted, might outperform, or how injuries can impact the line.

ILB A.J. Edds – Fourth round pick (119th overall)

Edds, who entered college a tight end before becoming a strong side linebacker, will be moving to the inside. It won’t be an easy transition, but the Dolphins feel his coverage skills could immediately benefit them in the nickel and dime package. That means he’s competing with Channing Crowder, Reggie Torbor, Tim Dobbins, J.D. Folsom and Austin Spitler for playing time, and a roster spot.

CB Nolan Carroll – Fifth round pick (145th overall)

With a recovering Will Allen set to battle Vontae Davis and Sean Smith for the starting cornerback spots, it’s logical that Carroll’s fighting for what’s leftover, which is a substitution role and special teams duties. That means his real competition are veterans Jason Allen, Evan Oglesby, and former safety Nate Ness. Considering his problem at Maryland has always centered on his health there’s concern Carroll won’t make it out of training camp healthy enough to contribute. He’ll need to be a strong special teams contributor to make the 53-man roster.

S Reshad Jones – Fifth round pick (163rd overall)

Nobody, including the Dolphins’ coaches, knows right now if this former Georgia standout has what it takes to become a starting NFL free safety. He’s talented, but there’s a reason he dropped to the fifth round. We just don’t know the reasons yet. The best case scenario is Jones quickly grasps the playbook and performs well enough to start more games than veterans Tyrone Culver and Chris Clemons. However, it’s more realistic that he replaces Culver as the strong safety who enters the field when Yeremiah Bell works close to the line of scrimmage in the nickel and dime package.

OLB Chris McCoy – Seventh round (212th overall)

McCoy, a late bloomer at Middle Tennessee State, has plenty of athletic ability. But he’ll need to tap into it quickly to land a spot on the 53-man roster, which is filled with unproven hybrid prospect like himself. Quentin Moses and Erik Walden already have two years of experience on him, but it’s possible McCoy could leapfrog them if his flashes on special teams, and presents more upside as a pass rusher. However, it’s more realistic he’ll find a landing spot on the practice squad if he needs more time to develop.

ILB Austin Spitler – Seventh round (252nd overall)

The Dolphins have typically carried no more than four inside linebackers on the 53-man roster, which means Spitler will have to show plenty of promise, and bust some heads on special teams to make the 53-man roster. Dansby, Crowder, Dobbins and Torbor are naturally positioned ahead of him. He’ll be battling Edds and Folsom, last year’s seventh-round pick, for a spot at the tail end of the roster, or practice squad.

So, which one of these newcomers do you suspect has the potential to execeed REALISTIC expectations?

Comments (547 Comments)

Wow… both Faulk and Lombardi think the Dolphins will be much improved. They feel Marshall and Dansby give them players who can help close games. Lombardi thinks Misi is going to be a great player in the NFL.

This is what i’ve been saying… Lombardi said he thought Koa would be a star in this league. I’ve repeatedly said, I don’t care what anyone says I think Koa is gonna be the best player from our draft and is gonna be a stud. That’s not me having a lack of confidence Odrick, it’s just how confident I am in Misi… he’s so versatile, he could be an ILB in the nfl and a good one.

He has all those tools, but he can also rush the passer and does it in very creative versatile ways, he plays mind games and sets his guy up, I love the way he will start to spin and break out of it so quick getting his guy off balance, or quickly step one way and then juke to his guys other side while slamming his shoulder to put him off balance, and it all comes back around because he will use a true spin and truly step one way and just go for a speed rush or bull rush. So you never know when he starts a move if he’s really doing it or screwing with you because he’ll do both, so it becomes guesswork. It’s not like watching some guys who just have a speed rush and nothing else, watching him is very enjoyable for me, he has a cerebral approach.

Tryp, I’m with you. Misi can end up being what Crowder never was. Crowder is a solid LB who knows the game but doesn’t make special plays. Misi has more of a motor and is flexible to do a lot of things. He may never be a pure pass rusher, but he could become another Dansby.

We improved our speed at LB by a lot. All the guys we brought in are 4.6 – 4.7 guys. They’re all big or have the frames to get bigger. We might see some mistakes but we’ll see more speed on defense.

NJ, I know. We both liked Misi on day two. I was saying Misi and Sapp. Obviously Sapp’s injuries played a role in him dropping. Misi has been a solid 2nd round pick for months. i don’t care if they had him ranked at 40 or 59, he was worthy of the pick. He could be a gem.

Ocala Rob, I think that’s why they targeted seniors and captains. Guys who played and showed they’re willing to work and learn, and want to pursue NFL careers. Dansby is huge for the LBs. Regardless of where Wake lines up, he will get after the passer. He proved that in limited opportunities last year. Misi is the key to adding another playmaker at LB. Edds is already a fan favorite.

i’m really pumped to see how our running game and offense performs with all the oline additions were getting cobbs back ronnie and ricky and the outside threat of marshall and hartline in his second year! it should be a great offensive show!!

I like what I see in Misi but will he adjust to a 34D. I have seen him play OLB where he was standing before the snap, ILB where he was lined up behind the Dline at the snap, in the middle of the Dline in a two point stand at the snap, on the end of the line with his hand in the dirt at the snap. He played everywhere on the front 7 at Utah, so he can play SOLB in a 34D IMO. He is fast enough to run down RBs trying to get to the out side, strong enough (in college needs to bulk up a little)to hold position or attack the ball carrier or QB, and looks real good in pass coverage (watch the senior bowl) turns well and has some lenth to keep close to the TEs and RBs out in the flat.

Misi may not adjust right away to the 3-4, but he just seems like a football player. He played DT weighing 275 at Utah when they needed him to. He played DE/LB at 255 and dropped to 243 for the combine because everyone is training for the 40 and agility tests.

This kid could play at 250 this year and 260 in the future. We don’t know yet. But he’s a high motor guy with the size/speed/game thing going on.

Misi may not play 45-50 snaps a game as a rookie, maybe more like 25-30. We might rotate 8 LBs in games.

I see Nolan moving a lot of defenders around. I’d love to see him use some Belichick defensive alignments with the 2-4-5 and the 2-3-6. Starks, Odrick, Dansby, Crowder, Wake, Misi and our nickel, or Starks, Odrick, Dansby, Wake, Edds and our dime. Mix blitzes, stunt and get quick guys going after the QB. Including DBs.

Yeah, my scrupulous eyes are now upon Reshad Jones being we didn’t draft Earl the Pearl nor having landed Darren Sharper. I’m REALLY rooting for him, but I can’t help but think that he’s another SS being transplanted into the FS role… as was the case with Gibril.

Well if Reshad is a SS playing FS maybe he’ll at least create some turnovers and make some plays since he had a history of that in college, unlike Gibril who couldn’t even so much as make a play so we could overlook him getting burned repeatedly.

You make solid points. But I do think that Koa has more athleticism, a better motor, and more pass-rush ability than Moses and Anderson. And once Koa DOES put the weight back on, I think he’ll be able to set the edge better than the other two.

I know it’s FAR too early to predict a young buck’s future, but I could see Koa becoming a hybrid version of Keith Bullock… at least that is my hope, man!

he was 243 when he weighed in at camp, he was 251 at the combine when he put up that time though. We’re going to get him back up to 250/255, but not just with fat, mostly by bulking him up with muscle a bit more.

to have a rookie come in and take over a job like that shows a lack of depth. but i guess losing taylor and porter we are thin at olb i’m sure misi will get his share of reps! you never know one of these other lbers we drafted could surprise us also! edds seems smart he was quick with answers when interviewed! looks like he will be around for a long time!

I had him too!! I was just defending him over on Tin’s. He was amidst about 13 guys who were my “favorites” for us to take. I still have the file with a list lol. The only OLB’s on it were Brandon Graham, Jerry Hughes, Koa Misi, and Daniel Te’o-Nesheim but he went a lot earlier than I thought he would, I had him more as a sleeper.

Moses and Anderson will probably make it because they have the big frames the trifecta likes on the outside and they’ve played in the 3-4 for two years. But I see Misi getting more opportunities. I just see him earning that playing time.

Wake will rush the passer 25-30 times per game as opposed to 10-15 last year. Moses and Anderson with Misi working his way in on early downs, and Wake and Misi on passing downs.

Dansby will be on the field 90% of the time with Crowder probably 60% of the time. Dobbins and Edds getting the rest.

watching youtube on cam wake he did drop back in pass coverage some. but what was surprising these tackles are latching on to him and holding him! i bet he’s gonna draw a lot of holding calls this year!

I think Wake/Misi will be the starters, based on watching Anderson/Moses i’m very sure those two are nothing more than rotation/backup guys. I understand they have more experience than Misi, but I’m really high on Misi and don’t think much of those two…. so I believe he’ll win out over them.

I agree with what some of you have stated concerning Coach Nolan. When JJ took over, and he stressed defense and running the ball, he drafted a bunch of “nobodies”, unpopular picks, and that Dolphins defense became a top notch defense for many years. Look at what Jabba the Butt Ryan has done for the Jets. Can’t wait to see what coah Nolan will set up to unleash havok on other teams. He’s the kind of coach that really likes to match players unique strenghts and skills and put them in position to succed.

Any word on if they’ll stick with the 3-4 or will they try the 4-3? I’ve read Nolan likes a hydrid type of system. We got the players that can play in both.

2. Crowder-because of his experience, and playing w/ Dansby will help him make more plays.

3. Dibbins- this guy is very, very close to being our #2 linebacker. He will push Crowder.

4. Wake- our best pure pass rusher. This guy has mad rushing skills, and with another year, and more round overall game, he should play more, and produce even more. I say he gets 10.5 sacks this year(if he gets more playing time/snaps than last year, which he should) under coach Nolan’s system.

5. Anderson-he can play…he’s a better tackler than Wake, but not as freakish pass rusher as Wake, plus he played behind Porter and JT while with the Trifecta. He’s a veteran, and has more experience than any of the rookies, and will probably enter camp a bit ahead than them.

6. Koa Misi- he’s got the Zach Thomas and JT motor!!! He’s relentless in pursuit and is a warrior. He’s more athelic than Thomas, and bit bigger, maybe stronger, and should battle Anderson.

7. probably AJ Edds will be after Misi, because the team already said he’ll be in for 3rd down situations.

8. Torbor- I think Torbor gets this spot because of his experience…but not for long…

NJ Phin Fan: about Wake…you’ll be very surprised when you look at the evidence. Wake can tackle and play the rush very well, much better than perceived. Look at the footage!!!

Can we really judge Wake for the “punter” incident? Look at what happened to our All pro Jake Long in Atlanta. He looked like a goof out there. Heck I’ve seen one legged Dan Marino do his little step slide and evade and make fools out of great pass rushers, too. It happens, man.

Wake is a hungry individual, and really loves to improve and get better. He will have a better over all game this year, especially with Nolan defense.

Whether the Fins go 11-5 or 7-9 depends on two things, Henne’s development and the D coming together under Nolan and his various schemes.

Henne will be helped big time by Marshall.

The D was a decent unit last year, and whether or not they are better this year depends on how quickly the rooks will develop, as well as our two 2nd yr CB’s, and how fast all the guys, rooks or not, grasp Nolan’s D.

Dansby is a sure bet to improve the D. Will Vonte and Smith do the same in 2nd year? How much of an impact will Odrick, Misi and Edds have as rookies? We’ll have to see. I believe they will all help to a degree, but impact players as rookies? May need a full year before that.

With plenty of rooks or not, Nolan will improve the D, based on what he did last year in Denver, that appears to be a sure thing.

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
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IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More